Ben Madilynn
Campus Cats officially re-registered as a student organization at the start of this year, after a period of inactivity during the pandemic. In Fall 2023, students in the organization, with assistance from faculty and staff, began supplying food and water stations for the cats, keeping a log of cat sightings, building weather shelters, and securing veterinary care as needed.
Rachael Pocklington, a longtime Georgia Tech staff member, provided a food and water bowl last year for Jack, a tortoiseshell cat who can often be seen at the gates of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. For Pocklington, seeing campus care for these cats has been a source of comfort.
“It warms my heart to know that so many people care about these cats,” she said. “It’s not just me or one other cat lover on campus with an office drawer full of cat food. It’s a huge community.”
The campus has gone above and beyond typical expectations for care, especially when the cats need extra help. Gracie, a tabby cat who was known to hang around the Klaus Advanced Computing Building, began to show symptoms of dental issues and stopped eating earlier this year. In response, the campus community raised over $2,000 in 24 hours to cover her medical expenses.
Since receiving care, Gracie has been adopted by Henry, who said she was moved and proud to see the extent to which the Tech community supported Gracie.
“She’ll need follow-up care, and even though she isn’t on campus anymore, I still hear from people that would be willing to continue funding that,” she said. “She’s the light of my life, and it’s been heartwarming to know that she means that much to the community, too.”
